As the spooky season approaches, children across the country eagerly await the thrill of trick-or-treating and collecting bags of sugary treats. However, for young patients at UVA Health, the reality they face is quite different. One such child is 4-year-old RJ, who was born with dextrocardia, a condition that places his heart on the wrong side of his chest. RJ's journey has been anything but easy, but UVA Health is determined to bring some much-needed joy and comfort to him and other young patients like him.

Transforming Hospital Stays into Memorable Experiences

Reverse Trick-or-Treating: Bringing the Magic of Halloween to Young Patients

In an effort to ensure that children like RJ can still enjoy the festivities of the season, UVA Health organized a special event called "reverse trick-or-treating." This innovative initiative involved groups of staff and community members visiting patient rooms to hand out treats, allowing the young patients to experience the joy of Halloween without having to leave the hospital. "We set out to have groups of staff and community members go to our patient rooms and hand out treats," explained UVA Children's Amy Cecak. "It's kind of a surprise, like, wow, we still get to participate in these things that are really important to us. It brings the magic of this time of year into the hospital."

Therapy Dogs: Bringing Smiles and Comfort to Young Patients

Adding to the festivities this year was the presence of Sully, a therapy dog who brought smiles and comfort to the young patients. "Sully, a therapy dog who brought smiles and comfort to the young patients," said Cecak. "It's nice to do this, you know, because there are a lot of kids missing out on a pretty good time," echoed RJ's dad, Richard Carico.

Ensuring Normalcy and Joy During Difficult Times

UVA Health's commitment to providing a sense of normalcy and joy for young patients and their families during difficult times is commendable. "We didn't think we were going to be here this long because surgery was last week. So it's nice to do this, you know, because there are a lot of kids missing out on a pretty good time," Carico shared, highlighting the importance of these initiatives in supporting families during challenging hospital stays.

Lifting Spirits and Fostering Resilience

UVA Health emphasizes that events like reverse trick-or-treating not only help lift the spirits of young patients but also support their families during tough times. "It brings the magic of this time of year into the hospital," Cecak said, underscoring the transformative power of these initiatives in fostering resilience and positivity among the young patients and their loved ones.

Celebrating Milestones and Cherishing Moments

For RJ, a 4-year-old with a heart condition, the reverse trick-or-treating event was a welcome respite from the challenges he has faced. "This is an energetic kid, man. You wouldn't know he was a heart patient," his dad, Richard Carico, proudly shared. RJ has already undergone two open-heart surgeries, and the latest procedure is hoped to be his last for a long time. Events like this allow the young patients and their families to celebrate milestones and cherish moments of joy, even in the midst of their medical journeys.

Fostering a Sense of Community and Belonging

UVA Health's reverse trick-or-treating initiative not only brings happiness to the young patients but also fosters a sense of community and belonging. By involving staff and community members in the event, the hospital creates a supportive network that extends beyond the medical care, ensuring that the young patients and their families feel seen, heard, and valued during their challenging times.